New Funding for Filmmakers Exploring the Lives of LGBTQ+ People

#MOREFilms4Freedom is supporting UK filmmakers to build relationships with other international filmmakers, working together to find the common links – and the differences – between LGBTQ+ lives in different parts of the world.

The programme is offering funding to three filmmaking teams to fully-fund a short film project that focuses on an LGBTQ+ subject. The aim is to find and facilitate the production of urgent, creative collaborations that explore LGBTQ+ intersectionality, global human rights and diaspora identity.

Projects must have at their heart an element of collaboration between UK-based LGBTQ+ identified filmmakers and filmmakers/storytellers from countries in the Middle East and the African continent, collaborating to explore LGBTQ+ stories.

Three films will be selected and awarded a grant of up to £10,500 each. In addition, each team will work with Executive Producer Loran Dunn, whose support will be provided alongside their funding, to mentor both team and project from script through to edit.

The grant will cover all stages of the project including production, delivery materials and team travel (ie filmmakers visiting the countries of their team members where required for development or production, as part of the cross-cultural collaboration).

Experienced UK-based producers that will pitch projects with an international outlook, specifically with a focus on Africa and the Middle East, will qualify.

The three selected films will be commissioned by September 2019 and are due for delivery in February 2020. They may be eligible to screen at next year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival in March, as well as to participate in the 2020 #FiveFilms4Freedom campaign, upon completion.

Briony Hanson, Director of Film, British Council said:

“The programme is deliberately international and designed to show that LGBTQ+ lives are universal wherever you are in the world, but throughout the programme’s life we have searched to find stories from the Middle East and African continent to include, without success.

“We hope that [this commissioning pilot] will both unearth some fascinating universal stories and kickstart some lasting cross-cultural creative relationships.”

The deadline for applications is midnight on 6 August 2019.

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.